scholarly journals Ian Roberts & Anna Roussou, Syntactic change: a minimalist approach to grammaticalization (Cambridge Studies in Linguistics 100). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. Pp. xi+275.

2005 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 220-225
Author(s):  
BETTELOU LOS
Keyword(s):  
Cambridge University ◽  
Syntactic Change ◽  
Minimalist Approach

scholarly journals Pathways of Grammaticalisation in Italo-Romance

Probus ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 327-366
Author(s):  
Luigi Andriani ◽  
Kim A. Groothuis ◽  
Giuseppina Silvestri
Keyword(s):  
Historical Linguistics ◽  
Cambridge University ◽  
European Languages ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Syntactic Change ◽  
First Case ◽  
Minimalist Approach ◽  
Principled Explanation ◽  
The Rich

AbstractThe aim of this contribution is to discuss three possible theoretical interpretations of grammaticalised structures in present-day Italo-Romance varieties. In particular, we discuss and analyse three diachronic case studies in relation to the generative view of grammaticalisation. The first case-study revolves around the expression of future tense and modality. This is discussed in the light of the assumption according to which grammaticalised elements result from merging elements in higher positions than their original merge positions within the lexical domain, giving rise to the upward directionality of the grammaticalisation process within the clause (Roberts, Ian G. and Anna Roussou, 2003, Syntactic change: A minimalist approach to grammaticalization. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press). The second case study challenges this view, by discussing irrealis complementisers as a case of a downward pathway of grammaticalization at the CP level. For our third case study, namely the development of (discontinuous) demonstrative structures from Latin to Romance, the rich Italo-Romance empirical evidence is analysed through the lens of a parametric account (Longobardi, Giuseppe, Cristina Guardiano, Giuseppina Silvestri, Alessio Boattini, and Andrea Ceolin, 2013, Toward a syntactic phylogeny of modern Indo-European languages, Journal of Historical Linguistics 3(1), 122-152), in order to capture the role of the relevant semantic and syntactic features within the fine-grained architecture of the DP. It will be observed that the diachronic development of some functional categories in (Italo-)Romance results from cyclic pathways of grammaticalisation, as the same category might cyclically change from more synthetic to more analytic, and vice-versa. Moreover, it will also be shown how the two theoretical approaches adopted, i.e. the cartographic model (adopted in Roberts, Ian G. and Anna Roussou, 2003. Syntactic change: A minimalist approach to grammaticalization, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), and the parametric accounts (Longobardi, Giuseppe, Cristina Guardiano, Giuseppina Silvestri, Alessio Boattini and Andrea Ceolin, 2013, Toward a syntactic phylogeny of modern Indo-European languages, Journal of Historical Linguistics 3(1), 122-152), are able to provide a principled explanation of the structural correlates of grammaticalisation at the sentential, clausal and nominal level of investigation.

Back to the future

1999 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-160
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Sternefeld
Keyword(s):  
Generative Grammar ◽  
Recent Book ◽  
Cambridge University ◽  
Syntactic Theory ◽  
Minimalist Approach ◽  
The Future ◽  
Minimalist Theory

Andrew Radford, Syntactic theory and the structure of English: a minimalist approach. Cambridge textbooks in linguistics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1997. Pp. xii + 558. Hardback £50, US$69.95, ISBN 0 521 47125 7; paperback £16.95, US$24.95, ISBN 0 521 47707 7.Until recently I was convinced that by far the best textbook ever written on Generative Grammar was Perlmutter and Soames' Syntactic argumentation and the structure of English (1979). Unfortunately, the theory advanced there died out. As concerns its successor, namely GB-theory, I still believe that Andrew Radford's pioneering Transformational syntax (1981) is one of the best introductions to Chomsky's Pisa lectures, despite the plethora of competing textbooks that have appeared over the years. Now that Radford has presented his most recent book, Syntactic theory and the structure of English, I am inclined to believe that it should be considered a competitor to Perlmutter and Soames' book. Not only the similarity to Perlmutter and Soames' title, but also the pedagogical and systematic orientation of the new book invites comparison. As both books meet the highest standards with regard to clarity of expression and exposition, I recommend Radford's book as the best textbook for up-to-date syntactic theory, and I am convinced that it will play the same influential role as an introduction to the Minimalist theory as did the 1981 book for GB theory.

Syntactic change: A minimalist approach to grammaticalization (review)

Language ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 428-434
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Longobardi ◽  
Gabriele Rigon
Keyword(s):  
Syntactic Change ◽  
Minimalist Approach

A minimalist approach to the emergence of ergativity in Austronesian languages

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edith Aldridge
Keyword(s):  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Morphological Comparison ◽  
Austronesian Languages ◽  
Functional Head ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Syntactic Change ◽  
Minimalist Approach

AbstractThis paper proposes a novel reconstruction of Proto-Austronesian as a language with accusative alignment, in contrast to previous analyses, which have reconstructed PAn with some type of ergative system. The methodology employed in this paper also departs from previous work in basing the proposal on syntactic change rather than on phonological or morphological comparison. In the account of argument licensing in the Minimalist Program, nominative subjects are licensed by a higher functional head T than accusative objects, which value their case with the light verb

Symptomatic imperfections David Adger, Core syntax: a Minimalist approach. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003. Pp. xiii+424. Andrew Radford, Minimalist syntax: exploring the structure of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004. Pp. xiii+512.

2006 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 395-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
ASH ASUDEH ◽  
IDA TOIVONEN
Keyword(s):  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Cambridge University ◽  
Oxford University ◽  
Minimalist Approach ◽  
Oxford University Press ◽  
Minimalist Syntax ◽  
Principles And Parameters

Minimalist syntax and Core syntax are reasonably good textbooks. They should be very helpful indeed in teaching a syntax course on current Principles and Parameters theory (P&P; Chomsky 1981) that focuses on the Minimalist Program (MP; Chomsky 1995, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005). The books present a range of syntactic phenomena, which are for the most part discussed lucidly and illustrated by considerable relevant data. Nevertheless, the books are not pedagogically faultless and the pedagogical faults are often due to underlying theoretical problems.

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